Commission paper warns of critical loss of species

The European Commission will warn next week that, alongside climate change, the loss of plant and animal species is that “the most critical global environmental threat” to the planet.

More than 700 species, including the Iberian lynx and the Mediterranean monk seal, face possible extinction. Only one in six of the EU’s protected habitats has a favourable conservation status as required by EU law. Grasslands, coastlands, bogs and fens have been in decline, although forest cover has increased.

The depressing picture of dwindling biodiversity is presented in a paper to be approved by the Commission next week (19 January) that is intended to kick off a debate about how to strengthen the EU’s nature policy.

“There is mounting evidence that the status of many ecosystems is reaching or has already reached the point of no return,” states the draft. “The loss of biodiversity beyond certain limits would have far-reaching consequences for the very functioning of the planet.”

Failed targets

The EU has failed to meet a target, agreed by its leaders in 2001, of halting biodiversity loss in 2010.

The Commission paper will argue that the EU needs to take a more scientific approach to protecting plants and animals.

The paper highlights gaps in existing EU legislation, notably on soil. The Commission is unhappy that a draft law on soil protection has been stalled for more than two years because of opposition from national governments, including Germany and the UK.

Measures to guard against invasive ‘alien’ species is another gap. Non-native species, from Japanese knotweed to the American grey squirrel, are on the rise in Europe, but no EU law exists to tackle them, although some countries are taking action. The EU’s fisheries policy is also singled out as an area ripe for change.